The Atlantic Wall Scheveningen  KIDS TOUR There is a Kids Tour DISCOVER THE GRANDNESS Staatsbosbeheer for this walk. OF THIS DISTRICT OF (National Forestry 3 Authority)  See We will take you on a route through the district of the Hague ‘to the www.BB45 BB 45 .nl .nl south of the woods’: the Bezuidenhout. A district with 19th-century grandness, which was largely lost after the devastating accidental bombardment of 3 March 1945. utseweg Bezuidenho With photos and stories we will show you a picture of the street VVV  scene before as well as after the devastating bombing. For children Spui 1 there is a special Kids Tour. For each sign, the website www.bb45.nl offers additional information about the location with fi lms, photos and articles. The route is 5.5 km long. Along the way you can enjoy one of the many catering establishments or play areas that the 3 district has to offer. NS train station WE WISH YOU ENJOYABLE WALKING! astraat   Theresi Stichting 3 maart ’45 and residents of the district 2 4 INFORMATION SIGNS IN BEZUIDENHOUT

Emmastraat A BEACON IN BEZUIDENHOUT  THE WILHELMINAKERK Kon.Marialaan

  BEZUIDENHOUT REMEMBERS A RAVAGED SQUARE Julian a van Stolb  erglaan   E A HYPER-MODERN SWIMMING STATELY BEZUIDENHOUT t a POOL a r 5 t  FROM HOMES TO SHOPS s  e t  t THE V2-OFFENSIVE ë 3 i r OTHER SIGNS n 4 e  THE ATLANTIC WALL H  A Monument ‘Human error’ e s Bezuidenhout- i L and V2 rocket u ou 2  West o is SHOPPING BY RATION CARD L e de B Koningin Sophiepark C D ol  CROSSROADS REDUCED TO (Queen Sophie Park) B ig Imhoffstraat Van ny RUBBLE st C ra Bezuidenhout-West streets 5 at Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indië Nieuw van Laan  FOOTBALL, CHURCH & OFFICES D Bezuidenhout-West history  4  THE SCHOOL KEPT GOING E Bezuidenhout-West

characteristics

Amalia van Solmsstraat van Amalia Pr. Beatrixlaan Pr. Utrechtsebaan Schenkkade  LEGEND Library Haagse Hout & C Historical Information Point  Walking route NS train station 5 A Information Signs BB45 5 Tram stop Additional information, see rear side Play area Other district signs Catering

WALKING THROUGH THE HISTORY OF THE BEZUIDENHOUT THROUGH THE HISTORY WALKING NS train station Laan van NOI Voorburg Bombed area Tram route EXTRA INFORMATION FOR UNDER WAY for V2 launch sites, bunkers and anti- On the Korte Voorhout, among buildings, 1970s social housing around the Utrechtsebaan, tank trenches for the Atlantic Wall. others, the Princesse Schouwburg, and as an urban beacon, the ‘the Beatrixkwartier’. A strik- 1 BIRTH OF THE DISTRICT Boerweide in the . These very V2 launch sites were to the Hotel Paulez and the Palace of Witte Anna tower block (1987). ing element in this area is the In the 13th century, cold feet and After that things progressed have great consequences for Bezuiden- Justice went up in flames. The first new (government) Netkous (fishnet stocking) the need for a succulent piece of quickly in Bezuidenhout. The hout. Many V2 rockets were launched offices came into the district tram viaduct of Randstad Rail meat gave reason to the Counts colossal buildings made way for at London. In order to counter the 4 RECONSTRUCTION such as the Ministry of Agricul- (2004), in the middle of modern of Holland to exploit the peat- ‘simpler’ middle-classhousing. danger this repres ented to its own After the war the city of Den Haag ture (1950) and the Koninklijk buildings like Centre Court lands to the south of the ‘Haagse After 1915 extensive house- population, the British govern- was penniless. The city council faced Conservatorium (1980). The (2003), the Prinsenhof(2006), Bos’. In order to transport the building continued towards ment wished to put an end to the an enormous task of reconstruction. centre of the district remained the Haagsche Zwaan (2010) and fuel and the cattle the noblemen the east in accordance with the launching of V2s, through a major Not only Bezuidenhout was destroyed, empty for a long time and was the Monarch (2011). Examples constructed a road, the ‘Grafe- Berlage expansion plan.* bombardment of the Haagse Bos. the city was also experiencing an the perfect play area for children. of modern homes constructed lijk Karrenpad’ or present-day * Illustrated on a table in Library/HIP. enormous housing shortage because The reconstruction work lasted in an old-fashioned style are the Bezuidenhoutseweg. no houses had been built for years approximately 60 years. townhouses on the Amalia van 2 SHADES OF ROYALTY and the number of residents was Solmsstraat. 5 Many street names in Bezuiden- growing quickly. Furthermore there THE DISTRICT IN THE hout indicate close ties with was a lack of materials, transpor- 21ST-CENTURY TIPS IN THE AREA: the House of Orange (Dutch tation, skilled labour and money. In The grandness of the former • Walking in Bezuidenhout: Royal Family). For example, the these circumstances the decision Bezuidenhout has returned to www.bezuidenhout.nl Adelheid-, Emma-,Wilhelmina- was made to build as many houses the district at the start of this • Walking in The Hague with a guide: Mitchell bomber (photo: Instituut voor and Theresiastraat are named as possible with as few resources century, but then with a more www.gildedenhaag.nl Maritieme Historie, Den Haag). in honour of Queen Emma as possible. No large houses, no modern look. Many buildings • Walking in Haagse Bos with a guide: (1858 - 1934) and the Louise The bombardment was carried out big rooms, and not more than four from the reconstruction period www.staatsbosbeheer.nl The Grafelijke Karrenpad (Illustration Henriëttestraat is named after on 3 March 1945 by three squad- stories. This gave rise to the duplex were demolished in favour of • The Hague Historical museum: by Carel Wiemers, in: ‘Duel op de bloed- the oldest daughter of Frederik rons of bombers based in England dwelling, like in the Amalia van high-rise with offices and accom- www.haagshistorischmuseum.nl heuvel’, 2012). Hendrik of Orange and Amalia and Belgium, in total 56 aircraft. The Solmsstraat. Two homes with one modation. In 1995 Nationale • Atlantic Wall (bunkers): www.atlantikwallmuseum.nl After Princess Amalia van Solms, van Solms. Other street names residential district of Bezuidenhout, front door, which later could easily Nederlanden opened its ‘de who had her summerhouse built date back to the VOC (Dutch East and not the Haagse Bos, was hit in be converted into one single home. Haagse Poort’ office spanning MORE INFORMATION ABOUT in 1645 - the present-day Huis India Company) period, like the its heart. Many people have looked the Utrechtsebaan, which is BEZUIDENHOUT: Ten Bosch -, wealthy residents of Van Imhoffstraat, named after into how this could happen. One regarded as a modern gateway of • Haagse Hout Library & Historical The Hague built country estates. Gustaaf Willem van Imhoff section of the bombers received the The Hague. On the green area by Information Point: Under the denominator of (Governor General of the VOC wrong coordinates. Another section the Schenkkade offices appeared Theresiastraat 195, Den Haag ‘Grandness’ the Hague subse- between 1743 and 1750)*. dropped its bombs on the right including those of Siemens and T: 070 - 353 75 50 quently extended its built area * For more explanation of street names, coordinates, but strong winds ‘blew’ the former Ministry of Social • District website and Bezuidenhout alongside this road, with stately see www.bezuidenhout.nl. the bombs into the district. Affairs and Employment. Behind App: www.bezuidenhout.nl homes for principal residents, The bombardment’s force was the Ministry stands the ‘Monu- Bezuidenhout became a town of offices. like Bellevue (1750) belong- 3 HAAGSE BOS, V2 AND enormous. Hundreds of people were ment to Human Error’, unveiled Photo taken from the Central Station TO FIND OUT MORE ing to the jurist Lyonnet (later BOMBARDMENT buried under the rubble and were in 1995 in remembrance of the (photo: Stichting 3 maart ’45). ABOUT THE LOCATIONS: transformed into a hotel), Huis The Haagse Bos is a centuries-old killed instantly or severely wounded. bombardment of 3 March 1945. Ter Noot (on the former site of woodland. We owe the fact that Many fled, taking with them what- Reconstruction began slowly in WWW.BB45.NL the Ministry of Agriculture) and the woods still exist today largely ever they thought of at that moment, Bezuidenhout. In 1951 the Bezuid- Zandvliet belonging to Professor to the ‘Deed of Redemption’ of and ran under the railway viaduct enhout reconstruction plan was PUBLISHED BY: Schwencke (1854). In 1878 1576, drawn up by the Counts to Voorburg. Help came from far accepted, including the construction Stichting 3 maart ’45 & the Station Staatsspoor (State of Holland. This deed stipulated beyond the region, even the fire of a sunken Utrechtsebaan, the Bewonersgroep Sophiepark Railway Station) was created, that the woods should never be service from Zaandam. Due to a lack extension of the railway and the [email protected] and around 1885 the Koningin sold or cut down. The woods were of fire engines, petrol and water the building of government offices. This www.bezuidenhout.nl Emmapark. In 1888 Sociëteit De protected by this for a long time. fire had already had a long time to meant that the area next to the Beatrixkwartier with ‘de Netkous’ © 2015, Stichting 3 maart ’45 together Witte (a Private members Club- During the Second World War the take hold, destroying thousands of station was enclosed, creating the with Municipality of the Hague, (nicknamed fishnet stocking) house) opened ‘Tent in het Bosch’, occupying Germans decided other- buildings. urban island ‘Bezuidenhout C’ (the The Hague Municipal Archive and Staats- (photo: Studio Zipper). a country retreat for music and wise: 85% of the woods and the Not only Bezuidenhout was hit. present-day Bezuidenhout-West). It bosbeheer (National Forestry Authority) entertainment on the Walther Sociëteit’s ‘Tent’ were bulldozed Bombs also fell in the city centre. became a mix of 1930s apartment A new business centre arose Design: www.studiozipper.com Printing: SER en VNO-NCW